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Brooksong and Company
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Date Posted: 03:33:12 10/15/06 Sun
Hildfern looked out across the moorland of her home. She had never liked the great northern moores, but her parents would die if she left. The young mouse sighed. "This is no life for me." She said, though no one was in hearing range. "I have always known I did not belong here, but where am I to go?" She looked longingly south. All beasts had heard of the riches of the south, but Hildfern clung to each word as if that could help her reach her dream. Redwall Abbey. The tranquil setting in the middle of a forest was like nothing she had ever seen. All Hildfern knew was the flat scrub and the harsh winters of her home, Clearwater Hill. It was a small village in the northern moores, far past Noonvale, and the wreckage that was all that was left of Marshank. Legend said that she was a blood relation to the legendary Rose of Noonvale, some long lost great great great granddaughter of a cousin. She just thought it was a great great great pain. Everyone treated her like a precious stone, always on display until bought. It was only a matter of time until her mother and father chose a husband for her. That was what she dreaded the most.
She turned, and began to walk toward the steep flight of stairs toward the enclosed town of Clearwater Hill. She was huffing and puffing by the time she reached the final step at the great wooden gate. This was only one of the first times she had been allowed out on her own. She stopped to rest for a moment, the echoing silence the only thing in her head but her own ragged breathing. She looked out to the south again, and knew, in her heart, that she would leave that night. She turned back toward the gate, and pulled the thick rope that traveled up the wall, over the fence, and into the gatekeeper's cottage. Hildfern's father had come up with this invention himself. Otherwise, Gorserose would sleep through the loud banging at the door. Always. Hildfern heard the slightest ring of a bell, and a few moments later, the grumble of someone who had rudely been awakened from a deep slumber.
"Ham in no mood to hopen this great bonny door right now, missy. Why must you halways leave right before dark?" The voice said, as the door opened to a huge mountain hare, still blinking sleep from her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Gorserose. Maybe you should try drinking tea before bed. It might keep you awake until I arrive again." Hildfern said, and marched through the gate, past the frightfully huge hare, who looked after her with pretended dislike.
Once she was out of hearing range, Gorserose chuckled. "Hew know hew cannae stay angry with yon wee maid, Gorserose." She said, and closed the gate with a single push.
Hildfern’s room was sparsely decorated, with a simple sprig of holly above her bed. The walls were straight wood, stuck in the ground so the wall was quite simply a bunch of logs. It was the inside of the outer wall, which would be inconvenient if they were attacked. An enemy would be able to burn straight through the dry wood wall, and into the chieftain’s daughter’s living quarters. But no one was going to attack them. Few beasts had even heard of Clearwater Hill, let alone knew where it was.
There was a small bed in the corner, close to the door, because of the cold wind that blew through the cracks between the logs. There was a thick quilt on the bed, and under that, a wool blanket and a set of white sheets. Along the other wall, there was a chest, which Hildfern opened with a groan. “Let’s see…” She murmured to herself. “Two dresses… hat… cloak…”
“Hildfern, what are you doing?” Said a voice behind her.
Hildfern jumped up in surprise, and whirled around to see the intruder. “Koal, don’t do that.” She sighed, clutching her chest in surprise.
The other mouse chuckled. He was taller that Hildfern, and about two years older. His fur was a shade lighter, and he wore a wool tunic. “I am your brother, Hildfern. It’s my responsibility to keep you on your toes.” He said. He looked past Hildfern at the sack and clothes on the floor. “Taking inventory?” He asked, smiling smugly.
Hildfern smiled. “Uh… Yeah.” She said. “And I still have all of my clothes.”
“Yeah right. You’re going to run away!” Koal said, and pushed past his sister to see what she was packing. He laughed quietly as he picked up the dresses and hat. “You can’t run in these, Hildy. You can barely walk in these.” He said.
“Well, I have nothing better.” Hildfern sputtered.
Koal stood, and turned toward the door. “I’ll be back in a moment with some real clothes.” He said, and headed to his own room.
Koal returned a moment later, with a pair of tunics under his arm. “These are too small for me now. You want to try one on?” He asked.
Hildfern shook her head. “No, these look to be the perfect size. Thanks, Koal. But, I’ve got to ask, why are you helping me?”
Koal smiled. “The faster you leave, the faster I become the special chieftain’s child. So hurry up!” He said, and the spoke again. “I was almost caught bringing those down here, you know. Mother stopped me, and asked where I was going.” He paused and laughed to himself. “I said I was going to give them to you, and she was shocked. Then I told her I was joking, and dashed away before she asked anything else.”
“Thanks again.” Said Hildfern, laughing.
Koal suddenly became serious. “Hildfern, I know your heart is set on Redwall Abbey, but it’s a dangerous world out there. If you find a companion, I want you to stick with them for as long as you can. If Clearwater Hill lost its joy, there would be nothing left here.” He said.
Hildfern looked up at her brother. “I will be careful, Koal. I’m quick and pretty agile when it comes right down to it, so I’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Koal shook his head. “You wish you had nothing to worry about.” He said. “Be careful.” The two mice clasped hands for a moment, and then Hildfern swept out of the room, and out of the only home she had ever known.
Hildfern opened the tiny back gate in the wall quietly, and looked back nervously. The shouldered her small sack, and headed out, south, to her dreams.
She walked straight south for about two hours, and by that time, the sun had risen. It would be a warm day, for the moors, and a little windy too. A few clouds scuttled across the sky, and settled over the eastern sea, where the sun was slowly rising to illuminate all of the land. There was a thick fog slowly moving in from the sea, but Hildfern failed to notice. Hildfern sighed as she slowly made her way down another steep hill. She looked back, only to see that her home was lost from sight, behind hills and endless fog that had rolled in from the sea. “What now?” She said as she looked forward again, just to see that the path in front of her had also been enveloped by the fog. She sat down, and sighed. “Might have thought of that, Hildfern.” She mumbled. “The fog comes in from the east sea every morning…” She lay back onto the damp grass and sighed. “I should probably sleep for a while now.” She said, and began to doze, unaware of the approach of another beast from the north.
Hildfern awoke to the quiet crackling of a fire nearby. Her eyes opened to clear blue sky, with barely any clouds. She turned on her side, to face the origin of the crackling, to find a short, feisty looking mouse bent over it. The mouse had a few scratches down her face, and two large gashes down her back, but they didn’t seem to bother her. She had golden brown fur, with slightly darker headfur, and a silver earring poked out of the mess of hair. “Och, the wee lass has awakened at last.” She chuckled, and straightened her short beige tunic.
Hildfern sat up and looked around, confused. “Um, marm, do you happen to know where I am?” She asked.
The mouse looked up. “I cannae tell you the exhact spot, but you’re between where you’ve come from and where you’re goin’” She said, and extended her paw, which was still bleeding lightly. “Ham Marie. Marie Blue- Eyes Yewbow. And what be your name, lassie?” She asked, her paw still extended.
Hildfern took the paw, and shook it lightly. “I’m Hildfern. Hildfern Loaniess, of the Clearwater Hill.” She said.
The other mouse shook her paw heartily. “Good tae meet you, Hildfern.” She said, and pawed the dirk that was buckled to her side. “You have any weapons, lassie?” She said. When Hildfern shook her head, Marie sighed. “We be in an unsafe part of Mossflower country. Ye should have a weapon.” She said.
Hildfern shook her head. “I wouldn’t know how to use it, Marie.” She said.
Marie shook her head, and her two braids swung lightly from side to side. “Ye must be crazy tae travel without a single weapon.” She said. “Ye’ll die within a day.”
Hildfern looked past Marie, into the slowly clearing fall fog. “You’re probably right… But, where I come from, there’s really no need for weapons. It’s a peaceful place, filled with people who love what they do, and would never harm another living beast.” She said.
Marie drew her gaze again. “Even if they would kill you for a scrap of stale bread? Even if they would kill ye just tae take your family and your land from ye? It’s a dangerous world out there, lassie, and the vermin in the countryside are beginning tae come together… There’s a storm brewin’, and those with no fighting experience are a danger tae the rest of us.”
Hildfern stared at Marie, shocked. “I had no idea that the land was in so much danger.” She said.
Marie smiled. “It’s halways been that way, lassie. Beasts have been stirring up trouble since the dawn of time. It may take some getting used to though.” She said, and took a stick by her side to poke the fire. A shower of sparks flew up, and a log settled into the fire.
Hildfern jumped back as the sparks returned to earth. She smiled sheepishly at Marie. “I’ve never really liked fire…” She said. “I was burned badly as a small maid… And haven’t liked it since.”
Marie nodded. “I know what that’s like. You get me a wee foot off the ground, and I’ll be dizzy for a day.”
Hildfern looked at her new companion, puzzled. “You, afraid of something? I just don’t’ see it.” She said.
Just a note... This was part of a trade with Marie... she made a picture of Hildfern, and I put her into this story. Marie, if you read this, and there's something you don't like, just pm me.
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